Review by Paul Sabin for MPM
It’s four years since Jax Chambers (Girlschool) and the gang of Syteria have released an album. It that time, they have gigged extensively and made the name more well known, plus if this new release is anything to go by, they have honed their writing skills and homed in on a sound that is consistent with their edgy, slightly punky image.
First track `Chasing Dreams’ has that pop meets rock, speedy, rough edged melody filled sound that has been used so successfully by the likes of Avril Lavigne and of course, the very British Fuzzbox. This sound will haunt your conscious mind with its infectious, punky, upbeat sound.
Breaking Through’ brings Chambers chugging thick guitar sound to the fore making this a real rocker. Julio Calvo’s vocal tames this monster of a track with her powerful but melodic vocal.
A pacy, pumping bassline and hard rhythm lays down the foundations for `Hit Me’ and Chambers jangly, crunchy lead mid song breaks up the song nicely in what is a vocally simplistic track. A flanged guitar riff starts `Monsters’ before Calvo launches her vocal.
The track then ebbs and flows as intensity rises and falls, all the while magic is being woven harmonised vocals and a superb hook line. The chorus is rhythmically similar to a certain famous Cameo song! This is earworm number two on this release!
Calvo’s deep vocal tone and a harder punk sound with a harsh guitar punctuates `E.M.P.T.Y’ Make no mistake this is about as far away from `Y.M.C.A’ as you can get (thank goodness!!). We move to the sugary, bubble-gum pop of `Debt Generation’ which gives a bit of melodic social commentary which is bound to raise a smile and shows Yorkshire based Systeria have a great sense of humour!
`It’s A Mess’ is where an 80’s rock guitar sound full of pinched harmonics and driving distortion lays down the foundations for another sing along chorus. This song hits you hard in the face, but you just can’t stop smiling! A marching beat and a gentler vocal delivery moves `Remember Me’ along. The added harmonies and meaty riffs in the chorus turn this track into an epic song.
We return to a speedy, punk fuelled `Raise A Glass’ that is still to get you pogo-ing around the living room! Tasty phrasing from Chambers guitar and the occasional brass parp keeps the excitement set to max. The darker riffed ` 9 To 9’ follows, probably the heaviest track here.
The quirky `Couldn’t Be Bothered’ has a kaleidoscope of sounds within. Swing beats, and walking bass lines meet old time vocal tones and modern guitar phrases with the old ska riff thrown in for good measure. `Pause For Peace’, another track full of delicious rhythms and melodies, sees Calvo delve into some current affairs social commentary and makes a plea to the world.
The second heaviest track `Talk Too Much’ takes Calvo’s voice to a new level of intensity. Band chants and a thunderous, meaty riff take the main stage until mid-song where song brilliant vocal swap around chants lighten the mode for a brief moment. We end the album with the Ramones classic `Rockaway Beach’. The band have really done justice to this song which fits in with their ethos perfectly.
Are Syteria, punk, rock or some form of melody metal? Who knows and let’s be honest who cares. What is certain is that this band know how to craft tracks that carry amazing melodies whilst not conforming to the usual musical stereotypes.
This sits them apart from the crowd but ignore them at your peril as these guys are the music equivalent of the sexiest kiss ever that’s followed by a black eye as you never quite know where their songs will take you. Gloriously different and an absolute joy to see live. What an album!
9/10
Visit our website, help us continue to make music: https://www.syteria.co.uk